Mayor: 'Make cleanliness a way of life'

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- "The government cannot do it alone. We need everyone to make cleanliness a way of life in order to save the environment, reduce climate change and sustain this citywide clean-up drive," Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said Friday.

Thousands of volunteers from schools, city hall, the private sector -- including a team from the Laus Group of Companies -- Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, barangays, non-government organizations, common folk, and government agencies like the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Public Works and Highways, Agriculture, Budget and Management, Education, Health, Social Welfare and Development, Tourism and the Bureau of Internal Revenue embarked on a massive and simultaneous citywide clean-up drive from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Part of Kaganapan 2013 or the 12th Cityhood Anniversary of San Fernando, the campaign aims to make it to the Guinness Book of World records as the biggest waterways clean-up by mustering an estimated 200,000 participants cleaning the stretch of MacArthur Highway from Barangay Telabastagan to Barangay San Nicolas, including inner barangays and particularly waterways and canals snaking from the north, passing through Barangay Saguin and Magliman down to the San Fernando River in Barangay San Juan.

"This clean-up day should be done every day, not just on a single day a year. To be able to sustain this, everyone must do his or her part and instill into our consciousness of clean surroundings, waterways and a healthy environment. We in government cannot do this alone. Everyone plays a vital role," Rodriguez told Sun.Star Pampanga, as he inspected various parts of the city during the drive.

Mother Earth Foundation's Sonia Mendoza agreed with Rodriguez and stressed that local government units could save millions in solid waste management funds through proper waste disposal.

"You can easily see that waste, especially plastics, abound in areas near waterways. It is important that everybody cooperates on garbage disposal because it can save millions of pesos which can go to other needed services. It is good that here in San Fernando, this is being done under the leadership of Mayor Rodriguez. It shouldn't really for just a day a year but everyday to save Mother Earth. With or without setting a record, we are able to take more steps in protecting and saving our environment. People now should go back to basics and not forget that cleanliness is next to Godliness,” said Mendoza.